Disposable wearing article with improved fastening arrangement

ABSTRACT

A disposable wearing article includes first and second engagement members attached to the outer surface of a front waist region along transversely opposite side edge portions thereof so as to be spaced from each other by a given dimension in a longitudinal direction and third engagement members attached to in the inner surface of a rear waist region along transversely opposite side edge portions thereof. The first engagement embers are laid on the respective side edge portions in longitudinally upper zones, the second engagement members are laid on the side edge portions in longitudinally lower zones, the third engagement members are laid on the side edge portions in longitudinally intermediate zones and hooks are respectively formed on the outer surface of the first and second engagement members and on the inner surface of the third engagement members.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is based on, and claims priority from, JapaneseApplication Serial Number2003-207944, filed Aug. 19, 2003, thedisclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in itsentirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a disposable wearing article used toabsorb and then to retain bodily waste discharged thereon.

There has already been disclosed a disposable wearing article havingfront and rear waist regions, a crotch region extending between thesetwo waist regions, and engagement members extending in a longitudinaldirection and attached to transversely opposite side edge portions inthe front and rear waist regions so that the side edge portions of thefront waist region and the side edge portions of the rear waist regionmay be connected together by means of these engagement members (SeeJapanese Unexamined Utility Model Application Publication No.1994-55623, herein after referred to as “Citation”). One of theengagement members is defined by hooks constituting the so-calledmechanical fastener and attached to the outer surface of the rear waistregion along the transversely opposite side edge portions thereof andthe other of the engagement members is defined by loops constituting themechanical fastener and attached to the inner surface of the front waistregion along the transversely opposite side edge portions thereof.

Parent or care personnel may put this article disclosed in Citation onthe wearer's body in a manner as follows: along the respectivetransversely opposite side edges portions of the front and rear waistregions, the inner surface of the rear waist region is placed upon theouter surface of the front waist region; the hooks and the loops are putin mutual engagement to connect the front and rear waist regions witheach other whereupon a waist-hole and a pair of leg-holes are formed;then the wearer's legs are guided through the waist-hole, then throughthe leg-holes; and finally the article is drawn upward along thewearer's waist.

If the hooks formed on the outer surface of the side edge portions inthe front waist region are engaged with the loops formed on the innersurface of the side edge portions of the rear waist region but more orless staggered in the transverse direction to put the article disclosedin Citation, the loops laid in the longitudinally upper and lower zonesof the side edge portions in the rear waist region are exposed on theinner side of the article. The exposed loops laid in the longitudinallyupper zone come in contact with the wearer's front waist and the exposedloops laid in the longitudinally lower zone come in contact with thewearer's legs. These exposed loops uncomfortably irritate the wearer'sskin.

For disposal of this article after used and soiled with the wearer'sbody waste, the crotch region may be folded onto the outer surface ofthe front waist region and the hooks attached to the side edge portionsof the front waist region maybe engaged with the outer surface of thecrotch region to maintain the article in such folded state. However, thehooks must be opposed to the outer surface of the crotch region byfolding the side edge portions of the front waist region onto the innerside of the article and correspondingly increased trouble is required tofasten the used article for disposal. In addition, the hooks and theouter surface of the crotch region are affected by a peeling forceintending to peel them off from each other and the article may beunintentionally unfolded.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the problem as has been described above, it is an object ofthe present invention to provide a disposable wearing article improvedso that the wearer is free from any uncomfortable feeling during use ofthe article and, after used and soiled with the wearer's body waste, thearticle can be easily folded up for disposal.

A disposable wearing article having front and rear waist regions, acrotch region extending between these waist regions and pairedengagement members respectively to inner surfaces of said front and rearwaist region along transversely opposite side edges thereof so that saidfront and rear waist regions may be connected together by means of saidengagement members.

The improvement according to the present invention is in that saidengagement members comprise first and second engagement members attachedto the outer surface of said front waist region along the transverselyopposite side edge portions thereof so as to be spaced from one anotherin a longitudinal direction by a given dimension and third engagementmembers attached to the inner surface of said rear waist region alongthe transversely opposite side edge portions thereof wherein said firstengagement members are laid on said transversely opposite side edgeportion of the front Waist region in longitudinally upper zones, saidsecond engagement members are laid on said transversely opposite sideedge portions of the front waist region in longitudinally lower zonesand said third engagement members are laid on said transversely oppositeside edge portions of the rear waist region in longitudinallyintermediate zones and wherein a fastening means is provided on therespective outer surfaces of said first and second engagement membersand the respective inner surfaces of said third engagement members.

According to one preferred embodiment of the invention, saidtransversely opposite side edge portions of the rear waist region can befastened to the outer surface of said crotch region at desired positionsthereon.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, a lengthdimension of said third engagement members measured in the longitudinaldirection substantially corresponds to or slightly larger than adimension by which said first and second engagement members are spacedfrom one another in the longitudinal direction.

According to still another preferred embodiment of the invention, alength dimension of said third engagement members measured in thelongitudinal direction is smaller than a length dimension of said firstand second engagement members measured in the longitudinal direction.

According to further another preferred embodiment of the invention, atotal length dimension of said first, second and third engagementmembers measured in the longitudinal direction when these engagementmembers are aligned one with another in the longitudinal directionsubstantially corresponds to a length dimension of said transverselyopposite side edge portions in said front and rear waist regionsmeasured in the longitudinal direction.

In the disposable wearing article according to the present invention,the third engagement members are not present in the longitudinally upperzone nor the lower zones on the respective side edge portions of therear waist region. Therefore, even if the positions at which these sideedge portions of the respective waist regions are connected together arestaggered in the transverse direction, there is no possibility that thethird engagement members might be exposed on the inner side in thelongitudinally upper and lower zones on the side edge portions of therear waist region If the longitudinally upper and lower zones on theside edge portions of the rear waist region come in contact with thewearer's front waist region and legs, it is not apprehended that thesezones might uncomfortably irritate the wearer's skin because none of thehooks are present in these zones and comes in contact with the wearer'sskin.

In this article also, after the article has been put on the wearer'sbody, the front and rear waist regions can be reconnected together bymeans of the first, second and third engagement members and thereby thewaist size of the article can be adjusted in conformity of the waistsize of the individual wearers. In this way, a fitness of the articlearound the wearer's waist can be adjusted so as to prevent the articlefrom slipping down along the wearer's waist.

In the article according to one preferred embodiment, the used articlecan be maintained in its folded up state for disposal by fastening theside edge portions of the rear waist region to the outer surface of thecrotch region at appropriate positions by means of the third engagementmembers. It is unnecessary for this article to fold the side edgeportions of the rear waist region onto the inner side of the article andthe used article can be easily folded up merely by, pressing the sideedge portions against the crotch region. Of the article folded up inthis manner, the side edge portions of the rear waist region as well asthe outer surface of the crotch region are not affected by any peelingforce and there is no anxiety that the article having been folded up inthis manner might be unintentionally unfolded.

In the article implemented in the manner that the length dimension ofthe third engagement members measured in the longitudinal direction issubstantially corresponds to or slightly larger than the dimension bywhich the first and second engagement members are spaced from oneanother in the longitudinal direction, each column defined by thesefirst, third and second engagement members arranged in this order in thelongitudinal direction as the article is put on the wearer's bodyincludes no blank zone between the first and third engagement members aswell as between the third and second engagement members. Thus the frontand rear waist regions are reliably connected together along the sideedge portions thereof.

In the article implemented in the manner that the length dimension ofthe third engagement members measured in the longitudinal direction issmaller than the length dimension of the first and second engagementmembers measured in the longitudinal direction, it is not apprehendedthat the third engagement members might come in contact with thewearer's skin.

In the article implemented in the manner that the total length dimensionof the first, second and third engagement members measured in thelongitudinal direction when these engagement members are arranged in thelongitudinal direction substantially corresponds to the length dimensionof the side edge portions in the front and rear waist regions, the frontand rear waist regions can be reliably connected together along the sideedge portions thereof substantially over the full range of the lengthdimension thereof measured in the longitudinal direction by engagingthese engagement members with the inner surface of the rear waist regionand with the outer surface of the front waist region.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a typical embodiment of thedisposable wearing article;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line II-II in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line III-III in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line V-V in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the article of FIG. 1 as put on thewearer's body;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line VII-VII in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the article of FIG. 1 as havingbeen folded for disposal;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the wearingarticle according to the invention;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along the line X-X in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along the line XI-XI in FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along the line XII-XII in FIG. 9;

FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken along the line XIII-XIII in FIG. 9;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing the article of FIG. 9 as put onthe wearer's body; and

FIG. 15 is a sectional view taken along the line XV-XV in FIG. 14.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Details of a disposable wearing article according to the presentinvention will be more fully understood from the description givenhereunder with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a disposable wearing article 1Aaccording to a typical embodiment of the invention, FIG. 2 is asectional view taken along the line II-II in FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is asectional view taken along the line III-III in FIG. 1 and FIG. 4 is asectional view taken along the line IV-IV in FIG. 1. In FIG. 1, atransverse direction is indicated by an arrow L, a longitudinaldirection is indicated by an arrow M and a thickness direction isindicated by an arrow N. As used herein, the term “inner surfaces” of anouter sheet 2, engagement members 11, 12, 13 and top- and backsheets 23,24 refers to the surfaces thereof facing the wearer's skin and the term“outer surfaces” thereof refers to the surfaces thereof facing away fromthe wearer's skin.

The article 1A comprises a liquid-impervious outer sheet 2 defining anouter shape of the article 1A and a laminated panel 3 attached to theinner surface of the outer sheet 2. The article 1A defines, in alongitudinal direction, a front waist region 4, a rear waist region 6, acrotch region 5 extending between these waist regions 4, 6,longitudinally opposite end portions 7 extending across the front andrear waist regions 4, 6 in a transverse direction, and transverselyopposite side edge portions 8, 9, 10 extending between the front rearwaist regions 4, 6 in a longitudinal direction.

The side edge portions 8 of the front waist region 4 have substantiallythe same length dimension as a length dimension of the side edgeportions 10 of the rear waist region 6. The side edge portions 8 of thefront waist region 4 is provided first and second pairs of engagementmembers 11, 12, respectively, and the side edge portions 10 of the rearwaist region 6 are provided with third pair of engagement members 13.The panel 3 presents a generally rectangular planar shape and extendsbetween the front and rear waist regions 4, 6.

The outer sheet 2 defines the front and rear waist regions 4, 6, thecrotch region 5, the longitudinally opposite end portions 7 and thetransversely opposite side edge portions 8, 9, 10. The outer sheet 2 isformed from a composite nonwoven fabric composed of a pair ofnon-stretchable hydrophobic fibrous nonwoven fabric layers 14, 15 placedupon and bonded to each other. Mutually opposed surfaces of thesenonwoven fabric layers 14, 15 are intermittently bonded to each other bymeans of adhesive (not shown). The outer sheet 2 curves inward along theside edge portions extending in the crotch region 5 so as to describecircular arcs which are convex in the transverse direction of thearticle 1A. Thus, the outer sheet 2 has a generally hourglass-likeplanar shape. A plurality of first and second waist-surrounding elasticmembers 16, 17 and a plurality of leg-surrounding elastic members 18 arecontractibly attached to the outer sheet 2 so that the outer sheet 2 maybe formed with a plurality of gathers as these elastic members 16, 17,18 contract.

The first waist-surrounding elastic members 16 extend along thelongitudinally opposite end portions 7 in the transverse direction. Thefirst waist-surrounding elastic members 16 comprise a plurality ofelastic strands arranged substantially at regular intervals in thelongitudinal direction. The second waist-surrounding members 17 are laidbetween the first waist-surrounding elastic members 16 and theleg-surrounding elastic members 18 and extend across the front and rearwaist regions 4, 6 in the transverse direction. The secondwaist-surrounding elastic members 17 comprise a plurality of elasticstrands arranged substantially at regular intervals in the longitudinaldirection. The leg-surrounding elastic members 18 comprise a pluralityof elastic strands extending along the side edge portions 8, 9, 10 inthe longitudinal direction from the crotch region 5 toward the front andrear waist regions 4, 6. These elastic members 16, 17, 18 are interposedbetween the nonwoven fabric: layers 14, 15 constituting the outer sheet2 and intermittently bonded to the mutual opposed surfaces of thesenonwoven fabric layers 14, 15. Specifically, these elastic members 16,17, 18 are bonded to these nonwoven fabric layers 14, 15 while theseelastic members 16, 17, 18 are stretched at a predetermined ratio. Thepresence of these first and second waist-surrounding elastic members 16,17 makes the respective side edge portions 8, 10 of the front and rearwaist regions 4, 6 elastically stretchable in the transverse direction.

The first and second engagement members 11, 12 are provided inrectangular shapes which are relatively long in the longitudinaldirection and arranged to be spaced from each other by a given dimensionin the longitudinal direction. The first and second engagement members11, 12 are attached to the outer surface of the front waist region 4along the side edge portions 8 so as to be laid on longitudinally upperand lower portions 8 a, 8 c, respectively, on both sides oflongitudinally intermediate portions 8 b. More specifically, each of thefirst engagement members 11 has its inner surface permanently bonded tothe outer surface of the outer sheet 2 (i.e., the nonwoven fabric 15) soas to be laid on the longitudinally upper zone 8 a of the associatedside edge portion 8 in the vicinity of its outermost edge 19. The firstengagement members 11 are placed upon transversely opposite end portions16 a, 17 a of the first and second waist-surrounding elastic members 16,17. Each of the second engagement members 12 has its inner surfacepermanently bonded to the outer surface of the outer sheet 2 (i.e., thenonwoven fabric 15) so as to be laid on the longitudinally lower zone 8c of the associated side edge portion 8 in the vicinity of its outermostedge 19. The second engagement members 12 are placed upon the associatedone of transversely opposite end portions 17 a of the second elasticmember 17 as well as upon the associated one of upper end portions 18 aof the leg-surrounding elastic members 18. The first and secondengagement members 11, 12 have respective outer side edges 11 a, 12 alaid inside the side edges 19 of the respective side edge portions 8 inorder to protect the wearer's skin from uncomfortable irritation due toa direct contact of these outer side edges 1 a, 12 a with the wearer'sskin. The first and second engagement members 11, 12 are formed overwhole areas of the respective outer surfaces thereof with a plurality ofhooks 20 constituting the mechanical fastener and these hooks 20 extendfrom the outer surfaces of these engagement members 11, 12 in thethickness direction of the article 1A.

The third engagement members 13 are provided in rectangular shapes whichare relatively long in the longitudinal direction and attached to theinner surfaces of the respective side edge portions 10 in the rear waistregion 6. Each of the third engagement members 13 has its outer surfacepermanently bonded to the inner surface of the outer sheet 2 (i.e., thenonwoven fabric 14)so as to be laid on a longitudinally intermediatezone 10 b of the associated side edge portion 10 in the vicinity of itsoutermost edge 21. The third engagement members 13 are placed upon thetransversely opposite end portions 17 a of the second waist-surroundingelastic member 17. The third engagement members 13 have respective outerside edges 13 a laid inside the side edges 21 of the respective sideedge portions 10 in order to protect the wearer's skin fromuncomfortable irritation due to a direct contact of these outer sideedges 13 a with the wearer's skin. The third engagement members 13 areformed over whole areas of the respective inner surfaces thereof with aplurality of hooks 22 constituting the mechanical fastener and thesehooks 22 extend from the inner surfaces of the respective thirdengagement members 13 in the thickness direction of the article 1A.

Though not shown in Figs., it should be noted here that the hooks 20, 22may be replaced by adhesive of the adhesive fastener known in the art.

A length dimension S4 of the third engagement member 13 measured in thelongitudinal direction substantially corresponds to respective lengthdimensions S1, S2 of the first and second engagement members 11, 12measured in the longitudinal direction and slightly smaller than adimension S3 by which the first and second engagement members 11, 12 arespaced from each other in the longitudinal direction. A total lengthdimension S5 of the engagement members 11, 12, 13 arranged in thelongitudinal direction generally corresponds to a length dimension S6along which the side edge portions 8, 10 of the front and rear waistregions 4, 6 extend (See FIGS. 6 and 7)

FIGS. 4 and 5 are sectional views taken along lines IV-IV and V-V,respectively, in FIG. 1.

The panel 3 comprises a liquid-pervious topsheet 23 facing the wearer'sskin, a liquid-impervious backsheet 24 facing away from the wearer'sskin and a liquid-absorbent core 25 interposed between these top- andbacksheets, 23, 24. The panel 3 serves to absorb and to retain bodywaste discharged by the wearer of the article 1A. The panel 3 haslongitudinally opposite ends 27 extending in the front and rear waistregions 4, 6 in the transverse direction and transversely opposite sideedges 28 extending in the longitudinal direction between the front andrear waist regions 4, 6. In the panel 3, the outer surface of thebacksheet 24 is permanently bonded to the inner surface of the outersheet 2 (i.e., the nonwoven fabric layer 14) in intermittent orcontinuous manner. The transversely opposite side edges 27 of the panel3 are respectively provided with a pair of liquid-resistant leak-barriersheets 28 extending in the longitudinal direction between the front andrear waist regions 4, 6.

The topsheet 23 is formed from a hydrophilic fibrous nonwoven fabric 29and the backsheet 24 is formed from a hydrophobic fibrous nonwovenfabric 30. The core 25 is permanently bonded to at least one of the top-and backsheets 23, 24. The core 25 comprises a mixture of particulate orfibrous super-absorbent polymer and fluff pulp or a mixture ofparticulate or fibrous super-absorbent polymer, fluff pulp andthermoplastic synthetic resin fiber, in any case, compressed to a giventhickness. Preferably, the core 25 is entirely wrapped withliquid-pervious sheet such as tissue paper or hydrophilic-fibrousnonwoven fabric in order to prevent the core 23 from getting out of itsinitial shape and/or to prevent polymer from falling off. The polymermay be starch-based polymer, cellulose-based polymer or syntheticpolymer.

The longitudinally opposite end portions 26 are formed fromlongitudinally opposite end portions 23 a, 24 a of the top- andbacksheets 23, 24, respectively, extending outward in the longitudinaldirection beyond the longitudinally opposite ends 25 a of the core 25 Inthese end portions 26, the end portions 23 a, 24 a of the top- andbacksheets 23, 24 are put flat and permanently bonded together. Thetransversely opposite side edge portions 27 are formed from transverselyopposite side edge portions 23 b, 24 b of the top- and backsheets 23,24, respectively, extending outward in the transverse direction beyondthe transversely opposite side edges 25 b of the core 25. In these sideedge portions 27, the side edge portions 23 b, 24 b of the top- andbacksheets 23, 24 are put flat and permanently bonded together.

The leak-barrier sheets 28 are formed from a hydrophobic fibrousnonwoven fabric 31. Each of these leak-barrier sheets 28 has a fixedlateral portion 28 a extending in parallel to the associated side edge27 of the panel 3 in the longitudinal direction, a movable portion 28 bextending in parallel to the fixed lateral portion 28 a in thelongitudinal direction, and longitudinally opposite fixed end portions28 c of the movable portion 28 b. The fixed lateral portion 28 a isinterposed between the outer sheet 2 and the backsheet 24 andpermanently bonded to the inner surface of the outer sheet 2 (i.e., thenonwoven fabric layer 14) and the outer surface of the backsheet 24. Astretchable elastic member 32 extending in the longitudinal direction iscontractibly attached to the movable portion 28 b in the vicinity of itsupper edge. The elastic member 32 is strand-like and permanently bondedto the movable portion 28 b so that the elastic member 32 may be wrappedwith a part of the movable portion 28 b. The longitudinally oppositefixed end portions 28 c lying on the respective end portions 26 of thepanel 3 are collapsed inward in the transverse direction of the article1A and permanently bonded in such state to the outer surface of thetopsheet 23. The elastic member 32 contracts as the article A curves inthe longitudinal direction with the panel 3 inside. In response to this,the movable portion 28 b of the leak-barrier sheet 28 rises above thetopsheet 23 and forms a barrier against body waste.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the article 1A of FIG. 1 as put onthe wearer's body, FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the lineVII-VII in FIG. 6 and FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the article1A of FIG. 1 folded up after used in preparation for disposal. In FIG.6, a transverse direction is indicated by an arrow L, a longitudinaldirection is indicated by an arrow M and the side edge portions 10 ofthe rear waist region 6 having been moved toward a transversely middlezone of the front waist region 4 are indicated by chain double-dashedlines.

A sequence followed by parent or care personnel to put the article 1A onthe wearer's body comprises steps of placing the inner surface of therear waist region 6 upon the inner surface of the front waist region 4along the side edge portions 10, 8 of the respective waist regions 4, 6and pressing the side edge portions 10 of the rear waist region 6against the side edge portions 8 of the front waist region 4. Bypressing the side edge portions 10 against the side edge portions 8, thehooks 20 are caught by individual fibers of the nonwoven fabric layer 14constituting the outer sheet 2 and thereby the first and secondengagement members 11, 12 are engaged with the inner surface of the sideedge portions 10 of the rear waist region 6. Simultaneously, the hooks22 are caught by individual fibers of the nonwoven fabric layer 15constituting the outer sheet 2 and thereby the third engagement member13 is engaged with the outer surface of the side edge portions 8 of thefront waist region 8. In this way, the front and rear waist regions 4, 6are connected with each other along the side edge portions 8, 10thereof. Thereupon, the article 1A is formed with a waist-hole 33 and apair of leg-holes 34. After the front and rear waist regions 4, 6 havebeen connected with each other, parent or care personnel guides thewearer's legs through the waist-hole 33, then through the leg-holes 34and draws the article 1A upward along the wearer's waist.

The third engagement members 13 are present neither in thelongitudinally upper zone 10 a nor in the longitudinally lower zone 10 cof the respective side edge portions 10 of the rear waist region 6 andtherefore there is no possibility that the third engagement members 13might be exposed on the inner side of the article 1A even if thepositions at which the side edge portions 8, 10 of the front and rearwaist regions 4, 6 are connected together are shifted aside In thearticle 1A, even if the longitudinally upper and lower zones 10 a, 10 cof the side edge portions 10 contact with the wearer's front waist andlegs, there is no anxiety that the wearer's skin might experience anyuncomfortable irritation. This is for the reason that none of the hooks22 are present in these zones 10 a, 10 c and merely the zones of theouter sheet 2 contact with the wearer's front waist and legs.

When the article 1A is put on the wearer's body and the first, secondand third engagement members 11, 12, 13 are almost linearly aligned onewith another in the longitudinal direction, each column defined by thefirst, second and third engagement members 11, 12, 13 includes none ofblank zones (between the first and second engagement members 11, 13linearly aligned with each other in the longitudinal direction as wellas between the second and third engagement members 12, 13 linearlyaligned with each other in the longitudinal direction) as will beapparently understood from FIGS. 6 and 7. Compared to the case in whichthe column defined by these engagement members 11, 12, 13 includes oneor more blank zones, the side edge portions 8, 10 of the front and rearwaist regions 4, 6 can be further more reliably connected together.

A total length dimension S5 of these engagement members 11, 12, 13measured in the longitudinal direction substantially corresponds to alength dimension S6 of the side edge portions 8, 10 of the front andrear waist regions 4, 6. With such dimensioning, the side edge portions8, 10 of the front and rear waist regions 4, 6 are engaged with oneanother over a generally full range of the length dimension S6 as thefirst, second and third engagement members 11, 12, 13 are engaged withthe outer surface of the front waist region and the inner surface of therear waist region 6. Thus these side edge portions 8, 10 of the frontand rear waist regions 4, 6 can be reliably engaged with one another.

If it has been found that a fitness of the front and rear waist regions4, 6 around the wearer's waist is insufficient after the article 1A wasput on the wearer's body, parent or care personnel may disconnect theside edge portions 8, 10 of the front and rear waist regions 4, 6 onefrom another on the wearer's body and pull the side edge portions 10 ofthe rear waist region 6 toward the transversely intermediate zone of thefront waist region 4 as indicated by the arrow L1, place the respectiveinner surfaces of the side edge portions 10 of the rear waist region 6upon the outer surface of the front waist region 4 at desired positionsand thereby connect again the front and rear waist regions 4, 6 by meansof these first, second and third engagement members 11, 12, 13.

After the article 1A has been put on the wearer's body, the front andrear waist regions 4, 6 can be connected again with each other by meansof the engagement members 11, 12, 13 as indicated by chain double-dashedlines. In this way, parent or care personnel may connect the side edgeportions 10 of the rear waist region 6 with the side edge portions 8 ofthe front waist region 4 at the appropriate positions to ensure that adimension S7 of the article 1A in the waist surrounding direction isadjusted in conformity with the individual wearer's waist size.

The first and second engagement members 11, 12 respectively lie on thetransversely opposite end portions 16 a, 17 a of the first and secondwaist-surrounding elastic members 16, 17 and the longitudinally upperend portions 18 a of the leg-surrounding elastic members 18 while thethird engagement members lie on the transversely opposite end portions17 a of the second waist-surrounding elastic member 17. Such arrangementensures that the elastic members 16, 17 are stretched in the transversedirection and the elastic members 18 are stretched in the longitudinaldirection as the side edge portions 10 of the rear waist region 6 arepulled toward the transversely middle zone of the front waist region 4and the inner surfaces of these side edge portions 10 are connected withthe outer surface of the front waist region 4 at the appropriatepositions. In this way, these elastic members 16, 17, 18 can beeffectively utilized to tighten the article 1A around the wearer's waistand legs and thereby to maintain the article 1A in close contact withthe wearer's waist and legs.

The used article 1A may be prepared for disposal, for example, in amanner as will be described hereunder. After the engagement members 11have been disengaged from the front waist front and rear waist regions4, 6 have disconnected from each other and left off from the wearer'sbody, parent or care personnel may fold the crotch region 5 onto theouter surface of the front waist region 4, then draw the side edgeportions 10 of the rear waist region 6 toward a transverselyintermediate zone of the crotch region 5 and press the side edgeportions 10 of the rear waist region 6 against the outer surface of thecrotch region 5. By pressing the side edge portions 10 against thecrotch region 5, the hooks 20 are caught by the individual fibers of thenonwoven fabric layer 15 constituting the outer sheet 2 and thereby theside edge portions 10 of the rear waist region 8 can be fastened to theouter surface of the crotch region 5.

The used article 1A is maintained in its folded state by the thirdengagement members 13 as shown in FIG. 8 and therefore ready fordisposal. More specifically, the waist-hole 33 as well as the leg-holes34 of the used article 1A are maintained in closed state and thereforeit is not apprehended that body waste or odor thereof might leak outfrom the article A through the waist-hole 33 and/or the leg-holes 34.

It is unnecessary for the article 1A to fold the side edge portions 10of the rear waist region 6 toward the inner side of the article 1A fordisposal, because the third engagement members 13 face the outer surfaceof the crotch region 5. Merely by pressing the side edge portions 10against the outer surface of the crotch region 5, the article 1A can beeffectively folded for disposal. In the article 1A folded in thismanner, the side edge portions of the rear waist region 6 as well as theouter surface of the crotch region 5 are not affected by any peelingforce intending to peel the third engagement members 13 off from theouter surface of the crotch region. In this way, there is no anxietythat the article 1A might be unintentionally unfolded.

FIG. 9 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing a wearing article1B according to another embodiment according to the invention, FIG. 10is a sectional view taken along the line X-X in FIG. 9 and FIG. 11 is asectional view taken along the line XI-XI in FIG. 9. In FIG. 9, atransverse direction is indicated by an arrow L, a longitudinaldirection is indicated by an arrow M and a thickness direction isindicated by an arrow N.

The article 1B comprises a liquid-impervious outer sheet 2 and alaminated panel 3 attached to the inner surface of the outer sheet 2.The article 11 defines, in a longitudinal direction, a front waistregion 4, a rear waist region 6 a crotch region 5 extending betweenthese waist regions 4, 6, longitudinally opposite end portions 7extending in a transverse direction, and transversely opposite side edgeportions 8, 9, 10 extending in a longitudinal direction. The side edgeportions 8 of the front waist region 4 have a substantially same lengthdimension as a length dimension of the side edge portions 10 of the rearwaist region 6. First and second engagement members 11, 12 are attachedto the side edge portions 8 of the front waist region 6 and thirdengagement members 13 are attached to the side edge portions 10 of therear waist region 6. The panel 3 extends between the front and rearwaist regions 4, 6.

The outer sheet 2 defines the front and rear waist regions 4, 6, thecrotch region 5, the longitudinally opposite end portions 7 and thetransversely opposite side edge portions 8, 9, 10. The outer sheet 2 isformed from a composite nonwoven fabric consisting of a pair ofnon-stretchable hydrophobic fibrous nonwoven fabric layers 35, 36 placedupon and bonded to each other. Mutually opposed surfaces of thesenonwoven fabric layers 12, 13 are intermittently bonded to each other bymeans of adhesive (not shown). The outer sheet 2 curves inward along theside edge portions extending in the crotch region 5 so as to describecircular arcs which are convex in the transverse direction of thearticle 1B Thus, the outer sheet 2 has a generally hourglass-like planarshape. Waist-surrounding elastic members 37 and leg-surrounding elasticmembers 18 each comprising a plurality of elastic elements arecontractibly attached to the outer sheet 2.

The waist-surrounding elastic members 37 are belt-like members andextend along the longitudinally opposite end portions 7 in thetransverse direction. The leg-surrounding elastic members 18 comprise aplurality of elastic strands extending along the side edges 8, 9, 10 inthe longitudinal direction These elastic members 18, 37 are interposedbetween the nonwoven fabric layers 35, 36 constituting the outer sheet 2and intermittently bonded to the mutual opposed surfaces of thesenonwoven fabric layers 35, 36. Specifically, these elastic members 35,36 are bonded to these nonwoven fabric layers 18, 37 while these elasticmembers 18, 37 are stretched at a predetermined ratio. The respectiveside edge portions 8, 10 of the front and rear waist regions 4, 6 areelastically stretchable at least in the transverse direction of thelongitudinal and transverse directions because the elastic members makethe outer sheet 2 elastically stretchable.

The first and second engagement members 11, 12 are provided inrectangular shapes which are relatively long in the longitudinaldirection and attached to the outer surface of the front waist region 4along the side edge portions 8 so as to be spaced from each other by agiven dimension in the longitudinal direction. Each of the firstengagement members 11 has its inner surface permanently bonded to theouter surface (i.e., the nonwoven fabric 36) of the outer sheet 2 so asto be laid on a longitudinally upper zone 8 a of the associated sideedge portion 8 in the vicinity of its outermost edge 19. Each of thesecond engagement members 12 has its inner surface permanently bonded tothe outer surface (i.e., the nonwoven fabric 36) of the outer sheet 2 soas to be laid on a longitudinally lower zone 8 c of the associated sideedge portion 8 in the vicinity of its outermost edge 19. The first andsecond engagement members 11, 12 have respective outer side edges 11 a,12 a lying inside the side edges 19 of the respective side edge portions8. The first and second engagement members 11, 12 are formed over wholeareas of the respective outer surfaces thereof with a plurality of hooks20 extending in the thickness direction of the article 1B.

The third engagement members 13 are provided in rectangular shapes whichare relatively long in the longitudinal direction and attached to theinner surfaces of the respective side edge portions 10 in the rear-waist region 6. Each of the third engagement members 13 has its outersurface permanently bonded to the inner surface (i.e., the nonwovenfabric 35) of the outer sheet 2 so as to be laid on a longitudinallyintermediate-zone 10 b of the associated side edge portion 10 in thevicinity of its outermost edge 21. The third engagement members 13 havethe outermost edges 13 a lying inside the respective side edges 21 ofthe side edge portions 10. The third engagement members 13 are formedover whole areas of the respective inner surfaces thereof with aplurality of hooks 22 extending in the thickness direction of thearticle 1B. A length dimension S4 of the third engagement member 13measured in the longitudinal direction is smaller than respective lengthdimensions S1, S2 of the first and second engagement members 11, 12measured in the longitudinal direction and substantially corresponds toa dimension S3 by which the first and second engagement members 11, 12are spaced from each other in the longitudinal direction. A total lengthdimension S5 of the engagement members 11, 12, 13 arranged in thelongitudinal direction substantially corresponds to a length dimensionS6 along which the side edge portions 8, 10 of the front and rear waistregions 4, 6 extend (See FIGS. 14 and 15).

FIGS. 12 and 13 are sectional views taken along lines XII-XII andXIII-XIII, respectively, in FIG. 8.

The panel 3 comprises a liquid-pervious topsheet 23, a liquid-imperviousbacksheet 22 and a liquid-absorbent core 25 interposed between thesetop- and backsheets 23, 24 and bonded to at least one of these sheets23, 24. The panel 3 serves to absorb and to retain body waste. The panel3 has a substantially rectangular planar shape and extends between thefront and rear waist regions 4, 6. The panel 3 has longitudinallyopposite end portions 26 extending in the transverse direction andtransversely opposite side edge portions 27 extending in thelongitudinal direction. In the panel 3, the outer surface of thebacksheet 24 is permanently bonded to the inner surface of the outersheet 2 (i.e., the nonwoven fabric layer 35) in intermittent orcontinuous manner. The transversely opposite side edge portions 26 ofthe panel 3 are respectively provided with a pair of liquid-resistantleak-barrier sheets 28 extending in the longitudinal direction The topand backsheets 23, 24 are formed from a hydrophilic fibrous nonwovenfabric 29 and a hydrophobic fibrous nonwoven fabric 30 similar to thosein the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. The core 25 is similar to that in theembodiment shown in FIG. 1.

The longitudinally opposite end portions 26 are formed fromlongitudinally opposite end portions 23 a, 24 a of the top- andbacksheets 23, 24, respectively. In these end portions 26, the endportions 23 a, 24 a of the top- and backsheets 23, 24 are put flat andpermanently bonded together. The transversely opposite side edgeportions 27 are formed from transversely opposite side edge portions 23b, 24 b of the top- and backsheets 23, 24, respectively, extendingoutward in the transverse direction beyond the transversely oppositeside edges 25 b of the core 25. In these side edge portions 27, the sideedge portions 23 b, 24 b of the top- and backsheets 23, 24 are put flatand permanently bonded together.

The leak-barrier sheets 28 are formed from a hydrophobic fibrousnonwoven fabric 31 similar to that in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.Each of these leak-barrier sheets 28 has a fixed lateral portion 28 aextending in the longitudinal direction, a movable portion 28 bextending in the longitudinal direction, and longitudinally oppositefixed end portions 28 c of the movable portion 28 b. The fixed lateralportion 28 a is interposed between the outer sheet 2 and the backsheet24 and permanently bonded to the inner surface of the outer sheet 2(i.e., the nonwoven fabric layer 35) and the outer surface of thebacksheet 24. A stretchable elastic member 32 extending in thelongitudinal direction is contractibly attached to the movable portion28 b. The movable portion 28 b rises above the topsheet 23 and forms abarrier against body waste as the elastic member 32 contracts. Thelongitudinally opposite fixed end portions 28 c lying on the respectiveend portions 26 of the panel 3 are collapsed inward as viewed in thetransverse direction of the article 1B and permanently bonded in suchstate to the outer surface of the topsheet 23.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing the article 1B of FIG. 9 as put onthe wearer's body and FIG. 15, is a sectional view taken along a lineXV-XV in FIG. 14. In FIG. 14, a transverse direction is indicated by anarrow L, a longitudinal direction is indicated by an arrow M and theside edge portions 10 of the rear waist region 6 having been movedtoward a transversely middle zone of the front waist region 4 areindicated by chain double-dashed lines. A sequence for disposal of thisarticle 1B is same as in the case of FIG. 1 and therefore repeateddescription of the sequence is eliminated here.

In the article 1B, the hooks 20 are caught by individual fibers of thenonwoven fabric layer 35 constituting the outer sheet 2 and thereby thefirst and second engagement members 11, 12 are engaged with the innersurface of the side edge portions 10 of the rear waist region 6.Simultaneously, the hooks 22 are caught by individual fibers of thenonwoven fabric layer 36 constituting the outer sheet 2 and thereby thethird engagement member 13 is engaged with the outer surface of the sideedge portions 8 of the front waist region 8. In this way, the front andrear waist regions 4, 6 are connected with each other along the sideedge portions 8, 10 thereof.

The third engagement members 13 are present neither in thelongitudinally upper zone 10 a nor in the longitudinally lower zone 10 cof the respective side edge portions 10 of the rear waist region 6 andtherefore there is no possibility that the third engagement members 13might be exposed on the inner side of the article 1B even if thepositions at which the side edge portions 8, 10 of the front and rearwaist regions 4, 6 are connected together are shifted aside. In thearticle 1B, even if the longitudinally upper and lower zones 10 a, 10 cof the side edge portions 10 contact with the wearer's front waist andlegs, there is no anxiety that the wearer's skin might experience anyuncomfortable irritation. This is for the reason that none of the hooks22 are present in these zones 10 a, 10 c and merely the zones of theouter sheet 2 contact with the wearer's front waist and legs. In thearticle 1B, the length dimension S4 of the third engagement member 13 issmaller than those of the first and second engagement members 11, 12 andtherefore the article 1B can more reliably prevent the third engagementmembers 13 from coming in contact with the wearer's skin than thearticle 1A ensures it.

When the article 1B is put on the wearer's body and the first, secondand third engagement members 11, 12, 13 are almost linearly aligned onewith another in the longitudinal direction, each column defined by thefirst, second and third engagement members 11, 12, 13 includes none ofblank zones between the first and second engagement members 11, 13linearly aligned with each other in the longitudinal direction as wellas between the second and third engagement members 12, 13 linearlyaligned with each other in the longitudinal direction, as will beapparently understood from FIGS. 14 and 15. Compared to the case inwhich the column defined by these engagement members 11, 12, 13 includesone or more blank zones, the side edge portions 8, 10 of the front andrear waist regions 4, 6 can be further more reliably connected together.

A total length dimension S5 of these engagement members 11, 12, 13measured in the longitudinal direction substantially corresponds to alength dimension S6 of the side edge portions 8, 10 of the front andrear waist regions 4, 6. With such dimensioning, the side edge portions8, 10 of the front and rear waist regions 4, 6 are engaged with oneanother over a generally full range of the length dimension S6 as thefirst, second and third engagement members 11, 12, 13 are engaged withthe outer surface of the front waist region 4 and the inner surface ofthe rear waist regions 6, respectively. Thus these side edge portions 8,10 of the front and rear waist regions 4, 6 can be reliably engaged withone another.

With the article 1B put on the wearer's body, the side edge portions 8,10 of the front and rear waist regions 4, 6 may be disconnected one fromanother on the wearer's body, the side edge portions 10 of the rearwaist region 6 may be pulled toward the transversely intermediate zoneof the front waist region 4 as indicated by the arrow L1, then, therespective inner surfaces of the side edge portions 10 of the rear waistregion 6 may be placed upon the outer surface of the front waist region4 at desired positions to connect again the front and rear waist regions4, 6 with each other by means of these first, second and thirdengagement members 11, 12, 13.

After the article 1B has been put on the wearer's body, the front andrear waist regions 4, 6 can be connected again with each other by meansof the engagement members 11, 12, 13 as indicated by chain double-dashedlines. In this way, the side edge portions 10 of the rear waist region 6may be connected with the side edge portions 8 of the front waist region4 at the appropriate positions to ensure that a dimension S7 of thearticle 1B in the waist surrounding direction is adjusted in conformitywith the individual wearer's waist size without an anxiety that thearticle 1B might slip down along the wearer's waist during use of thearticle 1B.

The used article 1B may be prepared for disposal in a manner as will bedescribed hereunder. Parent or care personnel may fold the crotch region5 onto the outer surface of the front waist region 4, then draw the sideedge portions 10 of the rear waist region 6 toward a transverselyintermediate zone of the crotch region 5 and press the side edgeportions 10 of the rear waist region 6 against the outer surface of thecrotch region 5. By pressing the side edge portions 10 against thecrotch region 5, the hooks 22 are caught by the individual fibers of thenonwoven fabric layer 36 constituting the outer sheet 2 and thereby theside edge portions 10 of the rear waist region 8 can be fastened to theouter surface of the crotch region 5 by means of the third engagementmembers 13.

Similarly to the case shown in FIG. 8, the used article 1B also can bemaintained in its folded state by the third engagement members 13serving to connect the side edge portions 10 of the rear waist region 6to the outer surface of the crotch region 5 and therefore can be readyfor disposal. More specifically, the waist-hole 33 as well as theleg-holes 34 of the used article 1B are maintained in closed state andtherefore it is not apprehended that body waste or odor thereof mightleak out from the article 1B through the waist-hole 33 and/or theleg-holes 34.

It is unnecessary for the article 1B to fold the side edge portions 10of the rear waist region 6 toward the inner side of the article 1B fordisposal, because the third engagement members 13 face the outer surfaceof the crotch region 5. Merely by pressing the side edge portions 10against the outer surface of the crotch region 5, the article 1B can beeffectively folded for disposal. In the article 1B folded in thismanner, a shearing force is exerted on the side edge portions 10 of therear waist region 6 as well as on the outer surface of the crotch region5 and rather enhances engagement of the third engagement members 13 withthe outer surface of the crotch region 5. In this way, there is noanxiety that the article 1B might be unintentionally unfolded.

Material for the topsheet 23 is not limited to the hydrophilic fibrousnonwoven fabric and it is possible to form the topsheet 21 from ahydrophobic fibrous nonwoven fabric having a plurality of apertures. Itis possible to use a breathable liquid-impervious plastic film asmaterial for the backsheet 22. The outer sheet 2, the backsheet 24 andthe leak-barrier sheets 28 may be formed also from a composite nonwovenfabric (SM nonwoven fabric or SMS nonwoven fabric) composed of a meltblown fibrous nonwoven fabric having a high water-resistance and a spunbond fibrous nonwoven fabric being high in strength as well as inflexibility laminated on at least one side of the melt blown fibrousnonwoven fabric.

Materials for the fibrous nonwoven fabric layers may be selected fromthe group consisting of spun lace-, needle punch-, melt blown-, thermalbond-, spun bond- and chemical bond-nonwoven fabric layers. Material forthe hydrophilic fibrous nonwoven fabric may be selected from the groupconsisting of synthetic fibers modified to be hydrophilic,semi-synthetic fibers, regenerated fibers and mixture thereof. Thehydrophobic fibrous nonwoven fabric may contain water-repellent finishedsemi-synthetic fibers or regenerated fibers. Although not specified, thesynthetic fibers may be selected from the group consisting ofpolyester-, polyacrylonitril-, polyvinyl chloride-, polyethylene-,polypropylene- and polystyrene-based synthetic fibers. It is alsopossible to use the synthetic fiber selected from the group consistingof core-sheath conjugate fibers, side-by-side conjugate fibers, modifiedmacaroni fibers, microporous fibers and fused type conjugate fibers.

The stretchable fibrous nonwoven fabric layers 35, 36 constituting theouter sheet 2 of FIG. 9 may be formed from a melt blown nonwoven fabricor spun bond nonwoven fabric. It is possible to use, as component fibersof the stretchable nonwoven fabric layers 35, 36, stretchable fibersmelt spun from thermoplastic elastomer resin. It is also possible toform the outer sheet 2 from a composite nonwoven fabric composed of astretchable hydrophobic fibrous nonwoven fabric made of thermoplasticelastomer resin fibers and a hydrophobic fibrous nonwoven fabric made ofcrimped fibers melt spun from thermoplastic synthetic resin selectedfrom the group consisting of polypropylene, polyethylene and polyesterlaminated on at least one surface of the aforementioned hydrophobicfibrous nonwoven fabric.

Permanently bonding of the sheets 2, 23, 24, 28 to one another,permanently bonding of the core 25 to the sheets 23, 24 and permanentlybonding of the elastic members 16, 17, 18, 32 to the sheets 2, 28 may beachieved by use of adhesives. It is preferred to coat the outer sheet 2,the top- and backsheets 23, 24 and the leak-barrier sheets 28 with theadhesive in a pattern selected from the group consisting of a spiralpattern, wave-pattern, zigzag pattern, dotted pattern andstripe-pattern. By coating the outer sheet 2, the top- and backsheets23, 24 and the leak-barrier sheets 28 with the adhesive in such pattern,these sheets 2, 23, 24, 28 can be intermittently and permanently bondedone to another, the core 25 can be intermittently and permanently bondedto the sheets 23, 24 and the elastic members 16, 17, 18, 32 can beintermittently and permanently bonded to the sheets 2, 28. The outersheet 2 may be permanently bonded to the engagement members 11, 12, 13by use of adhesive or welding technique such as sonic sealing or heatsealing. The adhesive may be selected from a group consisting of hotmelt adhesive, acrylic adhesive and rubber adhesive.

When the engagement members 11, 12, 13 are permanently bonded to theouter sheet 2 using adhesive, a content of finish surface active agentin the nonwoven fabric layers 14, 15, 35, 36 constituting the outersheet 2 is preferably 0.04 wt per total weight of these nonwoven fabriclayers 14, 15, 35, 36 as measured by solvent extraction method(prescribed by JIS L 1015 7.22). If the content of the finish surfaceactive agent exceeds 0.04 wt, the finish surface active agent willprogressively deteriorate an adhesive force of the adhesive as the timeelapses and an adhesive strength of the engagement members 11, 12, 13 tothe outer sheet 2 will be correspondingly deteriorated until theengagement members 11, 12, 13 may be peeled off from the outer sheet 2.So far as the content of the finish surface active agent is less than0.04 wt, the adhesive is reliably protected against deterioration of itsadhesive force and, even if the articles 1A, 1B are stored for longperiod, the adhesive strength of the engagement members 11, 12, 13 tothe outer sheet 2 is protected from deterioration. The finish surfaceactive agent may be selected from a group consisting of anionic,nonionic, cationic, amphoteric surface active agents and mixturesthereof. Anionic or nonionic surface active agent may contain, ifnecessary to enhance adherence to the fiber, fatty wax, fatty acid,higher alcohol, mineral oil or hardened oil.

1. A disposable wearing article, comprising: front and rear waistregions, a crotch region extending in a longitudinal direction of thearticle between the front and rear waist regions, and paired engagementmembers positioned along transversely opposite side edges of said frontand rear waist regions so that said front and rear waist regions areconnectable together by means of said engagement members, saidengagement members comprising: first and second hook members permanentlyattached to an outer surface of said front waist region along thetransversely opposite side edge portions thereof, respectively, saidfirst and second hook members being releasably engageable with an innersurface of said rear waist region, and third hook members permanentlyattached to the inner surface of said rear waist region along thetransversely opposite side edge portions thereof, respectively, andwherein said first and second hook members are entirely spaced in thelongitudinal direction of the article by a given dimension selected topermit the third hook member to releasably engage the outer surface ofsaid front waist region between the first and second hook members whenthe front and rear waist regions are connected together by means of saidengagement members.
 2. The article according to claim 1, wherein alength dimension of said third hook members measured in the longitudinaldirection substantially corresponds to or is slightly larger than thedimension by which said first and second hook members are spaced fromone another in the longitudinal direction.
 3. The article according toclaim 1, wherein the outer surface of the front waist region and theinner surface of the rear waist region are formed essentially of thesame material engageable with said first through third hook members. 4.The article according to claim 1, wherein the outer surface of the frontwaist region and the inner surface of the rear waist region are formedof the same type of material.
 5. The article according to claim 1,wherein an outer surface of the crotch region is formed, at least inpart, of the same fabric as the outer surface of the front waist regionis formed, thereby allowing the third hook members to releasably engagethe outer surface of the crotch region to hold the article in a rolledconfiguration after use.
 6. The article according to claim 1, whereinthe third hook members are located so that when the rear waist region isoverlaid on the front waist region the first, second and third hookmembers assume an essentially aligned configuration without overlappingone another.
 7. The article according to claim 6, wherein a total lengthdimension of said first, second and third hook members measured in thelongitudinal direction when said first through third hook members arealigned one with another in the longitudinal direction substantiallycorresponds to a length dimension of said transversely opposite sideedge portions in said front and rear waist regions measured in thelongitudinal directions.
 8. The article according to claim 1, whereinthe inner surface of the rear waist region is adapted to face a wearer'sbody, in use; the outer surface of the front waist region is adapted toface away from the wearer's body, in use; and the inner surface of therear waist region and the outer surface of the front waist region areadapted to face each other when the rear waist region is overlaid on thefront waist region, in use, with the first and second hook membersreleasably engaging the inner surface of the rear waist region atlocations above and below said third hook member while the third hookmember releasably engaging the outer surface of the front waist regionbetween the first and second hook members.
 9. The article according toclaim 8, wherein a length dimension of said third hook members measuredin the longitudinal direction is smaller than a length dimension of saidfirst and second hook members measured in the longitudinal direction.10. The article according to claim 8, wherein said first through thirdhook members have substantially the same width as measured in atransverse direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of thearticle; and the width of each of said first through third hook membersis substantially constant throughout a length of said hook member asmeasured in the longitudinal direction.
 11. The article according toclaim 10, wherein the length of said third hook members is substantiallythe same as the dimension by which said first and second hook membersare spaced from one another in the longitudinal direction.
 12. Thearticle according to claim 10, wherein the length of said third hookmembers is greater than the dimension by which said first and secondhook members are spaced from one another in the longitudinal direction.13. The article according to claim 10, wherein the length of said thirdhook members is smaller than the length of each of said first and secondhook members.
 14. The article according to claim 10, wherein an entirearea of the outer surface of the front waist region that is locatedbetween the first and second hook members and has substantially the samewidth as said first and second hook members is releasably engageablewith the third hook members.
 15. The article according to claim 8,wherein said first and second hook members are entirely spaced in thelongitudinal direction by an area of the outer surface of the frontwaist region that is located between the first and second hook members,and an entirety of said area is releasably engageable with the thirdhook members.
 16. A disposable wearing article, comprising: front andrear waist regions, a crotch region extending in a longitudinaldirection of the article between the front and rear waist regions, andpaired engagement members positioned along transversely opposite sideedges of said front and rear waist regions so that said front and rearwaist regions are connectable together by means of said engagementmembers, said engagement members comprising: first and second engagementmembers permanently attached to one of (a) an outer surface of saidfront waist region and (b) inner surface of said rear waist region,along the transversely opposite side edge portions thereof,respectively, said first and second engagement members being releasablyengageable with the other of the outer surface of said front waistregion and the inner surface of said rear waist region, and thirdengagement members permanently attached to the other of the outersurface of said front waist region and the inner surface of said rearwaist region along the transversely opposite side edge portions thereof,respectively, and wherein the inner surface of the rear waist region isadapted to face a wearer's body, in use; the outer surface of the frontwaist region is adapted to face away from the wearer's body, in use; theinner surface of the rear waist region and the outer surface of thefront waist region are adapted to face each other when the rear waistregion is connected to while being overlaid on the front waist region,in use, with the first and second engagement members releasably engagingthe other of the outer surface of said front waist region and the innersurface of said rear waist region at locations above and below saidthird engagement member, while the third engagement member releasablyengaging said one of the outer surface of said front waist region andthe inner surface of said rear waist region between the first and secondengagement members; said first and second engagement members areentirely spaced in the longitudinal direction by an area of said one ofthe outer surface of said front waist region and the inner surface ofsaid rear waist region that is located between the first and second hookmembers, and an entirety of said area is releasably engageable with thethird engaging members; and all said first though third engagementmembers are hook members.